bill clinton did a lot of those things. of course, for anyone that is in the building every day as a reporter, that is what we crave the most. the chance to put the question of the day whenever the news is to the president and get his reaction. that seems to happen less frequently. why is that? >> is not a matter of comfort. at least on our part. the president is comfortable taking questions with the press just like he was with you yesterday. i think if you turn it around, especially with some of the president predecessors, you have to decide what -- i think it is worth looking at what benefit is greater? when the president stands up and takes multiple questions for many hours allowing follow-ups, i think i would be willing to go head to head with past presidents on the number of minutes this president has spent answering questions from the free press compared to the number of minutes in his presidency that his predescessors have. reporters dig deep and present follow-ups whereas the news of the day -- i know that is an imp